Birds In Focus

Welcome to the Birds section of In Focus. Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates in the class Aves, characterized by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, and the laying of hard-shelled eggs. With over 11,000 species worldwide, they vary in size from the tiny bee hummingbird to the large common ostrich. Birds possess wings that allow for flight, although some species, like penguins and ostriches, have lost this ability. They have unique adaptations in their digestive and respiratory systems for flight, while aquatic birds have evolved for swimming.

As feathered theropod dinosaurs, they are the only living dinosaurs and are closely related to crocodilians. They likely evolved in the Late Cretaceous and diversified dramatically after the extinction of non-ornithuran dinosaurs. They are social creatures that communicate through visual signals, calls, and songs, often engaging in cooperative behavior. Most species are socially monogamous, laying eggs that are incubated by parents.